Window cleaner



J. LENHART WINDOW CLEANER Nov. 12, 1935.

Filed March 14, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l m- Engg .a n w o 7 .Ow 2 O C ro 6 2J 6 w y ATTORN EYS Nov. 1E, 1935. J, LENHART 2,921,069

WINDOW CLEANER Filed March 14, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lim, 55

l@ JMW/Lem? ATToR N EYS NOW., l2, 1935. A J, LENHART 2,21,69

WINDOW CLEANER Filed March 14, 1954 v g 4 sheets-sheet 5 ATToRNEYS J. LENHART l WINDOW CLEANER Nov. 12, 1935.

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 14, 1954 A JQ 4.3

mnnnnm Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED ISTATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The invention relates to a Windowcleaner and moreespecially to a window cleaner adapter.

The primary object `of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein a wiper for a window glass can be positioned relative to the glass so that the surface thereof can be thoroughly cleaned and wiped, the apparatus being adjustable to permit the mounting thereof at a Vwindow frame and will support the wiper so that it can be operated from within the inclosure having the window frame for the thorough cleaning of the window.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein its construction is such that it may be readily and easily adjusted with dispatch so that it can be protruded through a wi-ndow frame to the exterior of an inclosure and is operable from within the inclosure for the cleaning of the Window glass from without, thereby `eliminating the necessity of a person assuming hazardous positions outside of the window for the manual cleaning of the same, the apparatus being novel in its entirety.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, which is comparativelyV simple in construction', readily and easily operated,Y thoroughly reliable' and'eflicient in its purposes, portable, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willl be hereinafter more fully describedr in detail, illustrated" in the accompanying: drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary Vertical sectionalview through. a; window sill showing the. apparatus in elevation constructed ini accordance` with the invention'..

Figure; 2:, aVY front elevation.

Figure 3 is a view similar tofigure` lirshowing the apparatus released from. the window' sill and im an adjusted position.

Figurev 4: is a. sectional-*view on the line'II-Il of Figure lflook-ing `inthe direction'iofr the arrows..

Figure 5 is a horizontal transverse: sectional view.- thiaough-the apparatus:

Figure:- 6. is,an' enlarged'A detailr sectionaliview onfthe line 6-6, of .Figure Figure. 7 isa-y sectional viewon= the1linei`l-`l of Figure: V

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line 9 9 of Figure `8.

Figure 10 is a sectional View on the line IIJ-I0 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary detailed perspective View of one of the racks of the Window cleaner.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates conventionally a window sill, B and C the lower and upper sashes respectively of a window, 15 these being of the usual construction and also mounted in the ordinary way for vertical sliding movements. The apparatus constituting the present invention comprises a pair of spaced parallel tracks Ill, each formed from a channel iron 20 having an upwardly curved or circular end portion I I,l while internally of the channels of the irons I0 are toothed racks I2 for a purpose hereinafter fully described.

The tracks I0 are sustained rigid relative to 25 each other through the series of crossed braces I3, while the curved portions II carry a handle bar I4 disposedl crosswise and joined therewith or mounted in any suitable fashion. Pivoted to the tracks I0 at an intermediate pointare 30 hangers I1'5 carrying an axle I6 having journale'cl thereon traction wheels Il, these being disposed outside of the hangers. Attached to the tracks IIlspaeed `from the'hangers t5 is a caster bracket |18 having fitted therein a swiveled caster If9 and 35 this bracket `isheld perpendicular through the medium-of a brace 20, the caster I9 being adaptedf toengagewithafloor or foundation. Carried by the tracks IIJ are blocks 2|' inwhich are swiveled castersl 22, these being adapted to contact` with the sill A when the apparatus is positioned for the service thereof in the cleaning ofA the'window glassof the sashes B andfC.

Supported by each trackand the axle I6 are suitableracks for thecarrying of window cleaning equipment,` suchasaf water' bucket, cloths, etc., (notshown)l and each'rack include'sacross runged bottom section 23, front: cross runged sectionf 24 and a rear crossrunged section 25, respectively, the front section 24rincluding there- 50 with-a-shifter lever 26 which" has its upper end pivoted, at 2'I, to the track next thereto, while the side pieceszof the` reari section 25 are pivotally engaged upo'n'1thefax1ev Il'iand thus: it willv be seen that when theisaidaxleisswung arcuately both shifter lever 26 and the 1section 23, serve as out side guards to the said racks to prevent Contact of the bucket or other Vequipment carried by the racks from working laterally outwardly from the racks in contact with the wheels i7. Each hangerY p I5 is provided with an elongated 51015.35 inwhich is tte'd an adjustable fastener 3l for a lever 32 pivoted, at 33, to the Ycompanion track lil. Thus it will be seen that when the fastener 3l is loosened and thehangers I5 are angularly changed the wheels I7 will be raised or lowered relative to a floor or foundation and when raised outV of tracksl. The hangers'rl and 5| are swiveled contact with the latter the caster I9 will engage therewith, while the casters 22 will be brought to rest on the window sill A and in this manner the cleanerV supported, the wheels Il being shown elevated in Figures l and 2 of the drawings and the casters V19 and 22 resting upon the floor Yor foundationY and the said sill. In Figure 3 of the drawings the wheels Il are contacting with the floor or foundation and the caster I9 elevated therefrom. i

Movably supported by the tracksV l0 is a carriage in the form of a frame including side members 34 and the 4upper and lower cross pieces 35 and 35 respectively', these spacing the members 34 from each other and parallel one to the other. The members at their lower ends have journaled thereon rack pinions 3l which engage the racks .l2 in the channel irons Iii -constituting the tracks. These members 34 aretformed with guide channels 38 opening inwardly of the carriage for accommodating or receiving the rollers 39 'of aslide 4l) having the eyes 4l embracing rods 42V carried by the cross pieces 35 and V36 of the carriage.

The side members 34 ofthe carriage are Yfitted with oifset legs 43, these having the angular portions 44 for their offsetting. and said legs support rack pinions 45 engaging' the racks I2 in the tracks il?. The'v legs 43'are augmentedby bracesY 4B connected therewith and to the side members 34 and arranged between andsupported by these Y legs 43 is a hanger 4l formed with acentral internally threaded sleeve 48 engaging a feed screw 49 `j ournaled in a bearing 55 aligned with the sleeve 48 and supported by a `hanger 5l lcarriedfby the and the feed screw 49 carries aY hand crank 52 for manual operation thereof. It will be apparent that byA turning the feed screw 49 atY the opera- Y tive side of Vthegapparatus .the carriage 34 can be swung to perpendicular position or angularly as `is clearly illustrated in Figures land 3 of the drawings and by the angular adjustment of said Vcarriage the same can be projected through a window on the raising of the lower sash B to position the apparatus with the carriage 34 outside of the window'whence it will be brought to perpendicularrpositio'n as shown in Figurel of said drawings. In the position of the cleaner as shown in Figure 1. of the drawings such. cleaner willibe in a position .for service in Vcleaning the panes of the sashes of the windows and thus the casters l 9 and 22 will have contact with the iioor or foundation VVand the lsill, respectively, thecleaner-.being held in this position in a manner` presently described.V 1

The tracks l0 have pivotallyY,connected-there-VA Y i with latch hooksV `53..,which .areadapted to` be brought into engagement withthelledgei'ad ofthe clockwise or counterclockwiseY the saidslide 40 will be shifted for movement longitudinally of the carriage as should be obvious.

The slide 40 has thereon a brush or wiper hold:- I5? er preferably in the form of a pair of opposed spring jaws 62 having the eccentric cams S3 and in thisholder is adapted to be removably tted a brush-or wiper, the wiper being indicated at 64 in Figure 8 of the drawings. The wiper, when 2o the carriage has been positioned for service, will act upon the surface of the glass" in theiwindow by contact therewith and on the shifting of the. slide 4i] the glass will be cleaned. The wiper 64', brush or other cleaning medium may be Ytreated 25 with a cleaning Vfluid to enable the proper clean'- ing of the glass in the operation of the apparatus. On manual operation of the feed screw `49 the carriage with the side members V34 and legs 43' can be properly adjusted so as to locate the holder 3u 52 with respect to the parts of thewindow -to beV cleaned and the apparatus may be shifted laterally upon the casters I9 and 22 so asto enable this carriage is set for the placing of the holder to bring the cleaning medium thereinA in con- 45 tact with the'part to be cleaned. q I Y Y The racks are provided.V with cross rungs 6B which adapt them for supporting buckets or baskets or both,'so thatV water as may4 be held by the buckets is available for use during the cleaning period,while the baskets will serve to hold cloths or` other cleaning mediums so it'will be apparent that these frames lconstitute carriers -in the apparatus.V Y Y It is of course to be understood that changes, 55VV variations and modifications may bermade in the apparatus as come properly within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention orY sacrificing any of itsvadvantages.VY 60* The operationof the apparatus should be Valiparent from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and therefore a more extended-'explanation has beenomitted. Y i What is claimed-iszf- Y Y j r 1 ,A cleanerof Vthe character described'com- A prising a pair of spaced horizontal tracks having straight portions and'upwardly curved portions, vtoothed racks fitting in said tracks, a framehav-V V76;

f supporting thesame on said toothed racks, casters arranged'in spacedA relation to each' other 'f5 The cables are connected with ears Si on 10\y and carried by said tracks, one being adapted to engage a floor orfoundation and the others a sill of a window, hangers swingingly supported by said tracks intermediate with relation to said casters, wheels carried bv said hangers, whereby by swinging said hangers the wheels can be elevated for effecting contact of the casters or lowered to bring said casters out of contact with the foundation and sill, and manually operable window cleaning means on said frame.

2. A cleaner of the character described comprising a pair of spaced horizontal tracks having straight portions and upwardly curved portions, toothed racks tting in said tracks, a frame having legs and being in an. upright position when supported by the horizontal part of said tracks, pinions carried by the frame and its legs and supporting the same on said toothed racks, casters arranged in spaced relation to each other and carried by said tracks, one being adapted to engage a floor or foundation and the others a sill of a window, hangers swingingly supported by said tracks intermediate with relation toI said casters, wheels carried by said hangers, whereby by swinging said hangers the wheels can be elevated for effecting contact of the casters or lowered to bring said casters out of contact with the foundation and sill, manually operable window cleaning means on said frame, and manu- -ally operable means for shifting the frame relative to the tracks.

3. A cleaner of the character described comprising a pair o-f spaced horizontal tracks having straight portions and upwardly curved portions, toothed racks fitting in said tracks, a frame having legs and being in an upright position when supported by the horizontal part of said tracks, pinions carried by the frame and its legs and supporting the same on said toothed racks, casters arranged in spaced relation to each other and carried by said tracks, one being adapted to engage a oor or foundation and the others a sill of a window, hangers swingingly supported by said tracks intermediate with relation to said casters, wheels carried by said hangers, 5 whereby by swinging said hangers the wheels can be elevated for eifecting contact of the casters or lowered to bring said casters out of contact with the foundation and sill, manually operable window cleaning means on said frame, manually operable means for shifting the frame relative to the tracks, and article containing racks pivotally connected with the tracks and with the axle for said wheels.

4. A cleaner of the character described comprising a pair of spaced horizontal tracks having straight portions and upwardly curved portions, toothed racks tting in said tracks, a frame having legs and being in an upright position when supported by the horizontal part of said tracks, pinions carried by the frame and its legs and supporting the same on said toothed racks, casters arranged in spaced relation to each other and carried by said tracks, one being adapted to engage a floor or foundation and the others a sill of a window, hangers swingingly supported by said tracks intermediate with relation to said casters, wheels carried by said hangers, whereby by swinging said hangers the wheels can be elevated for effecting contact of the casters or lowered to bring said casters out of Contact with the foundation and sill, manually operable window cleaning means on said frame, manually operable means for shifting the frame relative to the tracks, article containing racks pivotally connected with the tracks and with the axle for said wheels, and hooks carried by the tracks and engageable with the window sill for properly positioning the cleaner therewith.

JOHN LENHART. o 

